Theater



Nov. 3,1925.

L. BROWN THEATER Filed July 25, 922

3 Sheets-Sheet l 1299i \BPOCUIL .Nov. 3 1925.

1,559,739 L. BROWN THEATER 1 Filed July 25, 1922 s Sheets-Sh et 3 Patented Nov. 1925..

U-NITED STATES..-

LLOYD BROWN, 01 SHERMAN, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

$1,359,739 PATENT OFFICE.

0. B. HURTT, W. I. PETERSON, GEORGE BAYN E STEPHENS, AND CATHERINE BAYNE STEPHENS, ALL OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AND A. STEPHENS, OF MOLINE,

. ILLINOIS, TRUSTEES.

THEATER.

Application filed July 25, 1922. Serial No. 577,476.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, LLOYD BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing in' Sherman, county of Los Angeles, State of Cahfornia, have invented new and useful Im-' provements in Theaters, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to theater structures generally; and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel and useful design and structure that will provide a maximum utilization of space and will further- 'more afford facilities for attaining continuity of action; that will aflordconvemences for the. setting of stages, etc. There are many other objects and corresponding accomplishments of the invention; but all Wlll be best understood, and the invention itself will be best understood, from the detailed description of a preferred and specific form of theater structure that embodies the invention. After I have given such detailed description, the salient features of the design and structure will then be easily seen.

For the purposes of the following'detailed description Irefer now to the accompanying drawings in which-- I Fig. 1 is afloor plan of my improved theater structure; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertlcal section of the theater structure taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, but showing only-the lower parts of the structure; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken as indicated by line 3- 3 on Fig. 1; Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 1; Fig. 5 1s a fragmentary section taken as indicated on line 55 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a plan section on line 6-- 6 of Fig. 3. N

Fig. 1 shows a plan at the street level.- At the street level there is a -main entrance lobbyl 10, from which a stair 11 leads down The foyer is on a level below the street level.

to a platform 12 and then further stairs 13 lead down to the level of the foyer floor 14.

It is indicated F in the drawings. The entrances to the foyer are at 14 from the'stairs 13, and the coupon or' ticket ofiice 15 is lo-' cated beneath and between the stairs as is plot of ground, the exterior configuration of Y.

the foyer will probably be square, and I have so shown it in -the drawings; but it of course can be made of'any other suitable exterior configuration.- At the several sides of the foyer, preferably against the exterior walls, there are inclines 20 that lead .up to the floors 21 of the various auditoriums; these inclines emerging into the auditoriums near their back corners, as is best shown in Fig. 1.

One of the features of my invention is that I have a plurality of separate and distinct auditoriums arranged around a common central stage. In the particular case I show the. square or rectangular theater structure divided into four auditoriums A A, A and A, arranged around the common central stage S. This stage is preferably circular and revolving and also vertically. movable. It may preferably be constructed somewhat in the manner as indicated in the located below the stage around its central support; and any suitable machinery may be used "(it is not necessary to illustrate it 'in these drawings) to raise and lower the stage by the well known hydraulic action; and also to revolve it from time to time, as may be required. When the stage is-in use it occupies a position shown in full lines in Fig. 3; when it is being set preparatory to a per formance, it is lowered to the position shown in dotted lines at S inFig. 3. In its last mentioned position it is then on a level with floor 25 of the work and storage rooms VF, which rooms immediately surround the stage space and open directly into the stage space as is" indicated in the drawings. Immediately surrounding the rooms W, there may be a, circularly arranged series of dressing rooms R; and the foyer F extends completely around the circular exterior wall of these dressing rooms R. The working and dressing rooms, etc.,the space where the Around the central stage space there isa circular wall 30 that extends from the auditoriufn floors preferablyto the roof of the struct'al re; and in' this circular wall four stage proscenium openingsfl31 are provided at the auditorium level. (Of course, when I say thatthe auditoriums and thepro- "level of the auditoriums and that of the rooms, etc., below. As amatter of fact the maybe auditorium'floors are, at their fronts at least, below the proscenium openings, as illustrated). In front of each proscenium open- ,ing there is provided the orchestra pit 32; and the usual foot-light trough 33 is provided at the stage level. The stage itself carries 'four removable walls 35 which may be placed on the stage in such a manner, as

indlcated in' Fig. 1, as to divide the whole revolving stage S into four individual stages, one facing each auditorium. These individual stages may of course be used for any kind of show or entertainment; they may be set for a drama or the like; or a motion picture screen 36 may be set on them or let down from above the stage. Above the stage there maybe provided a revolving grid as indicated at40 for the purposes of handling scenery, etc. upon the, stage; and the pinrail balconies 41 are suspended from this revolvinji, grid. These galleries may be swung aroun to any position and thus to positions in front of the spaces above stage entrances 42, in which spaces there may be storage, etc., floors 42 (see Fig. 3) at the level of the balconies; and also floors .at other levels, as at 42". The floors of these stage entrances 42 are located at the auditorium level, that is substantially at the level of the stage S when ,in'its position shown in full lines in Fig. 3.

From these stage entrances 42 exit passages 43 lead out to the exterior walls of the building, as illustrated, and the walls of these exlt passages form the dividing partitions between the four auditoriums. These walls provided with exit doors 44 leading from the several auditoriums into the exit passages 43. Thus the exit passages 43 serve;

a den le purpose; they serve to provide additional exitsfrom-the several auditoriums hinged runway that maybe let down to the additional to the directexits at 45) and t ey also serve as communications directly between the stage and the street exits or entrances at 46, Thus they may be convement in many instances in bringing in or removlng scenery, etc., to and from the stage, and one, or more, of these entrances may also serve for communication between the streetv and the work rooms. For instance at in an entrance 43 there may be a tinuation of the floor of passageway f it is so desired, the division walls 35 may be removed from the stage and the stage used as a single whole for all four auditorlums at once. desirable for some forms of entertainments.

This may be particularly On the other hand for vaudeville entertainment, motion picture shows, etc., the stage may be divided as illustrated; the various separate stage areas set while the stage is in its lowered position, the stage raisedjto its position at the auditorium level, and then, by revolving the'stage from time to time,different settings and different entertainments may be brought before the several audiences. All this may be done and an entertainment carried on without-the necessity of taking any time for changing scenery. It will be noted that one set of general stage paraphernalia will suflice practically as well for all fourseparate stages as for a single stage. I wish further to point out that the stage may be raised above the level shown at S, to elevate scenery for certain scenic purposes. The revolving grid and galleries also allow the scenery to be revolved either with the stage or, for instance, for transformation purposes, oppositely tothe stage.

The arrangement that I have described lends'itself very readily to economical stage operations, stage setting. etc. When the stage is lowered into the work room it is freelyand easily accessible from all sides.

More space is available for the work room than is ordinarily the case, because in my arrangement the work 18 llOt-llmlted as 111 the usual theater by the fact that the auditorium I faces the stage at one side. When the stage is in its lowered position the work room enstage space may be much more economically and efficiently used, because it is then en tirely surrounded byauditoriums. And this is attained without losing any convenience or effectiveness of stage entrancesand exits.

Furthermore in my arrangement, although I provide an ample and effective foyer that leads easily and directly to all the auditoriums, I do not have to give up any street level space to it. The street level space is most effectively used for auditorium purposes. I

Having described a preferred form of my invention, I claim:

1. A theater structure that involves a cen-. tral vertically movable stage, auditoriums surrounding said'central stage at one level. and working rooms surrounding the central stage at another lever, a foyerat a level below the auditorium level and. extending around the work rooms, an entrance to the foyer, and communications between the foyer and the auditoriums.

2. A theater structure that embodies a central stage enclosing wall with a plurality of proscenium openings through it, a vertically movable stage located within the circular wall, said stage being movable from the level of the proscenium openings to another level; a plurality of separated auditoriums collectively surrounding the stage at the level of'the proscenium openings, and working rooms surrounding the stage at said other level anentrance foyer substantially at the level of the'working rooms, and entirely surrounding the working rooms, and communications between said entrance foyer and the several auditoriums. v

3. A theater structure that embodies a central wall with a plurality of proscenium openings through it, a stage enclosed by said wall, a plurality of auditoriums facing said central stage, an auditorium at each proscenium opening, and walled passage-ways leading between the several auditoriumsto the stage, providing stage entrances and providing division'walls between the several auditoriums. 1

4. A theater structure that embodies a central wall with a plurality of prosceniumopenings through it, a stage enclosed by said wall, a' plurality of auditoriums facing said central stage, an'auditorium at each proscenium opening, and walled passage-ways leading between the several auditoriums to the stage, providing stage entrances and providing division -walls between the Several auditoriums, said stage being mounted to be revoluble so that any part of said stage may be brought before any selected proscenium opening.

5. A theater structure that embodies a central stage enclosing wall with a plurality of proscenium openings through it, a plurality of separate auditoriums collectively surrounding the stage at the level of the stage openings, ,walled passageways located between the several auditoriums and leading to the stage space to provide stage entrances and also toprovide division walls between the several auditoriums, a verticallv movable and rotatable stage within the centralcircular wall, such stage being vertically movable from the level of the proscenium openings to a level below, and working rooms surrounding the stage at the lower level, i

6. A theater structure that embodies a cen'-- tral stage enclosing wall with a pluralitypf proscenium openings through it,- a plurality of separate auditoriums collectively surrounding the stage at the levelof the proscenium openings, walled passageways located between the several auditoriums and leading to the stage space to provide stage entrances and also to provide division walls between the several auditoriums, a vertically movable and rotatable stage within the central circular wall, such stage being vertically movable from the level of the proscenium openings to a level below, working rooms surrounding the stage at the lower level, and communication between the working rooms and said stage entrances.

7. A theater structure that embodies a central stage enclosing wall with a plurality of proscenium ooeninns'through it, a plurality of separate audltoriums collectively surrounding the stage at the level of the proscenium openings, walled passageways lo- 8. A theater structure that embodies a cen:

tral stage enclosing wall with a plurality of proscenium openings through it, a. plurality of separate auditoriums collectively surrounding the stage at the level of the proscenium openings, walled passageways lo-v cated between the several auditoriums and leading to the stage space to provide stage entrances and also to provide division walls I between the several auditoriums, a vertically movable and rotatable stage within the central circular wall, such stage being vertically movable from the-level of the proscenium openings to a level below, working rooms surrounding the stage space at the lower level, an entrance foyer completely surrounding the said working rooms substantially at said lower level, communications between the entrance foyer'and the several auditoriums, communications between the working rooms and said stage entrance passages, and communications between the several auditoriums and said 1 stage entrance passages.

9. A theater structure that involves a cen-' tralrevolving stage, a central revolving riggingfstructure above the central stage, and a structure surrounding the stage with I,

a plurality of auditoriums facing the central stage and arrangedaround it. v

10. A theater structure that embodies a central wall with a plurality of proscenium openings through it, a stage enclosed by said wall, a plurality ofauditoriums facing said central stage, an auditorium at each proscenium openin and walled "passage-ways leading between the several auditorlums to the stage, providing stage entrances and providing division walls between the several auditoriums. i

11. A theater structure that involves a central stage space enclosing wall with a plurality of proscenium openings through it, auditoriums at one level around the stage enclosing wall, work rooms around the stage space at another level, and a vertically movable and revoluble stage in thestage space, movable between the auditorium and work room levels and rotatable to bring any part of the stage opposite any selected proscenium opening.

12. A theater structure that involves a plurality of wall separated auditoriums arranged about a central stage space, with a proscenium opening'frorn each auditorium into the stage space, and a central stage in said s ace revoluble to bring any part of the stage efore any selected proscenium openmg.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of July, 1922.

LLOYD BROWN. 

